‘Angry Birds’ Animated TV (or Web) Series in the Works

After more than 50 million downloads, one would think the titular testy Aves of Angry Birds would have learned to lighten up and take it easy.

Not so, says Mikael Hed, CEO (Head) of Rovio, the Finland based creators of the insanely popular app. The birds are still fuming and they’re bringing the rage to an animated series that is in the works.

According to statements made to the New York Post, Hed has been looking to move the property into other platforms for a while, and that the transition to a TV series is one of his “big focus areas right now.”

While this is admittedly due in part to last year’s announcement detailing plans to create a feature film around Angry Birds, Hed says the priority has now shifted to the small screen. “That was the first part of the exercise, and now that we’ve done that, the next part is to move into production, and that’s where we are right now.”

While details on the actual show are few and far between (Rovio is currently looking for writers to begin work on the series), Hed has stated the finished product, “would be interesting to the whole family, for both adults and children.”

The birds aren’t just looking to show up on screens, beyond starring in the aforementioned animated series, the Angry Birds are also smashing their way into people’s homes as plush toys, clothing, key chains, and even a board game.

Commended for its distinct puzzle-solving appeal, as well as being fiendishly addictive and easy to learn, it’s not hyperbole to say the app was an instant sensation when it was first released in 2009 for Apple’s iPhone. Angry Birds proved so popular that Rovio worked hard to develop versions for virtually all smart phones and handheld devices. Later, the app even transitioned to desktop PCs and consoles such as the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Video games have once again become a hot commodity in Hollywood. The ultimate in classic games, Pac-Man, is apparently becoming a reality series while the Atari mainstay, Missile Command, is on its way to becoming a feature film. So it comes as no surprise that a young upstart like Angry Birds would be able to easily capitalize on its success by branching out and becoming the kind of multi-media franchise game developers dream of.